Quote

IMPALE, v.t. In popular usage, to pierce with any weapon which remains fixed in the wound . . . . properly, to put to death by thrusting an upright sharp stake into the body, the victim being left in a sitting position.

Ambrose Bierce

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Ambrose Bierce
Born: 1842
Born: June 24
Aphorist
Journalist
Poet
Science Fiction Writer
Writer
Meigs County
Ohio
Dod Grile
William Herman
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Body
Popular
Stake
Victim
Wound
Remains
Stakes
Weapons
Sharp
Impale
Sitting
Weapon
Thrusting
Position
Properly
Upright
Death
Wounds
Usage
Left
Fixed
Pierce

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Trial. A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of judges, advocates and jurors.
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The slightest acquaintance with history shows that powerful republics are the most warlike and unscrupulous of nations.
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PICKANINNY, n. The young of the Procyanthropos, or Americanus dominans. It is small, black and charged with political fatalities.
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April fool, n. The March fool with another month added to his folly.
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A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the buffone, or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play.
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Cynicism is that blackguard defect of vision which compels us to see the world as it is, instead of as it should be.
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pleasure, n. The least hateful form of dejection.
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PRESIDE, v. To guide the action of a deliberative body to a desirable result. In Journalese, to perform upon a musical instrument as, He presided at the piccolo.
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SIREN, n. One of several musical prodigies famous for a vain attempt to dissuade Odysseus from a life on the ocean wave. Figuratively, any lady of splendid promise, dissembled purpose and disappointing performance.
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BATH, n. A kind of mystic ceremony substituted for religious worship, with what spiritual efficacy has not been determined.
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Bigot: One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
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REFERENDUM, n. A law for submission of proposed legislation to a popular vote to learn the nonsensus of public opinion.
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OPIATE, n. An unlocked door in the prison of Identity. It leads into the jail yard.
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Wisdom is known only by contrasting it with folly by shadow only we perceive that all visible objects are not flat. Yet Philanthropos would abolish evil!
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ELECTOR, n. One who enjoys the sacred privilege of voting for the man of another man's choice.
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WRATH, n. Anger of a superior quality and degree, appropriate to exalted characters and momentous occasions as, the wrath of God, the day of wrath, etc. . . .
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Insurrection. An unsuccessful revolution disaffection's failure to substitute misrule for bad government.
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